Improved PLS and PSO methods-based back analysis for elastic modulus of dam

Abstract

The elastic modulus of dam body and dam foundation is the important mechanical parameter affecting the strength and stability of dam. According to dam monitoring data and numerical simulation, establishing the statistical model and the objective function, the improved particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is applied to back analysis of elastic modulus of dam body and dam foundation. Firstly, based on backward elimination-partial least square (BE-PLS) method, the statistical model of dam deformation monitoring data is established, and the water load component is separated from monitoring data. Meanwhile, the finite element model (FEM) of the dam is built and the displacement field of the dam is calculated. Secondly, according to the difference between the FEM computations and the reading of the plumb-line, the relation between the two objects is deduced, and an accurate objective function is established. Thirdly, in the optimized back analysis, the PSO algorithm with modified parameters is used to search the optimal elastic modulus, and the rule of jumping out makes the algorithm avoid falling into the local solution. Finally, taking a gravity dam as an example, the results demonstrate that the statistical model established by BE-PLS has high fitting precision, and that the new PSO algorithm improves the global optimization ability and convergence speed and can avoid falling into the local solution. The optimized back analysis can obtain the elastic modulus of dam body and dam foundation with high accuracy.